Delisted Adelaide midfielder Jackson Hately is hoping to keep his AFL dream alive following his departure at West Lakes.
Hately was one of four Crows players not offered new deals by the club last month, with the inside onballer joined by Andrew McPherson, Tariek Newchurch and Tyler Brown in being cut by the club.
The 22-year-old played 15 games over his three-year stint with Adelaide, managing just one appearance in 2023 as the tactical sub in Round 19 against Melbourne.
His time at Adelaide was short-lived after crossing from GWS at the end of the 2020 season, with the South Australian initially recruited by the Giants as the 14th overall pick two years prior.
The Central Districts product is now on the hunt to join his third AFL club after his departure from Adelaide, with Hately open to moving interstate or joining a state league club to get himself on the radar of clubs.
Speaking on Trade Radio on Tuesday, Hately said he didn't lose confidence in his ability after being notified of his delisting by the club.
"I'm travelling well. It's certainly a roller coaster. I've been very lucky to have some great highs and great experiences so far and obviously getting delisted is on the other side of that, but I'm still feeling very fortunate and very competent in my footy journey and that there's lots of foot left," the ex-Giant and Crow said.
"When you're out of contract, you sort of have a reasonable idea of the things that may happen and so I had an idea probably five or six before but it is still always tough to hear in the moment.
"[Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks] let me know that the club wouldn't be going with me in that direction."
Hatley said he understood why he was limited to appearances at senior level given Adelaide's riches of inside midfielders, however believed he was playing the best football of his career in 2023.
After helping lead the Crows' SANFL side to a deep finals run, Hately finished ninth in the Magarey Medal standings and would be named on the wing for the 2023 Team of the Year.
While believing his best role is inside the engine room, Hately is backing his ability to play multiple positions as he eyes a potential AFL return.
"I'm super confident in what I can do on an AFL field. This year the opportunities weren't really there and that's sometimes just what happens. We had a very healthy midfield group and a list that was playing quite well, but I feel extremely confident that I can still play really good footy and I have played good AFL footy in the past," he said.
"This year the opportunity didn't quite come. It wasn't meant to be, but I'm still super confident.
"It's funny, this was obviously my fifth year in the system and I had one game as the sub where I played a quarter of footy. It felt like this was definitely the best I've been as a footballer this year but it was the least amount of games I've played.
"It's not always linear, but I take confidence from the fact that I certainly got better this year as a footballer. I would have loved to have played a lot of AFL this year. But playing some state league games in a pretty strong team, it's still an enjoyable thing to do.
"I certainly didn't lose any confidence in what I can do.
"I can certainly play wing and other positions, that's some flexibility that I can definitely bring. There aren't too many guys that play purely as an inside midfielder for 100% of the game. So I think it's important to be able to play those other roles.
"I've only played three or four games at AFL level as an inside mid, but I certainly felt like I went pretty well in those games and feel like I can match it with anyone in there.
"I think that's definitely my best spot."
Hately moved to South Australia from Sydney's west to return to his home state and be closer to family, but with his partner living in Melbourne the emerging midfielder is open to leaving SA this off-season
The 28-gamer said "you just never know what can happen" as he looks to keep his career alive.
"I'm definitely willing to move states," he said.
"I think coming back to the Crows, [the pull home] was obviously a factor. There were a multitude of factors at the time that were a reason to come back, but that was certainly a strong one. I had family here.
"But having said that, I've got a partner who lives in Melbourne and has lived in Melbourne these last three years. So (moving states) is certainly something I'm definitely open to.
"... I certainly don't feel like my journey is over. You just never know what can happen."
Hately could make a decision on his next club as early as this week following discussions with state league clubs since his delisting.
With AFL sides yet to lock in their list spots for 2024 as the trade, free agency and draft periods near, Hately said he's prepared to bide his time.
"There's been some conversations over those last couple of weeks now and I'll make a decision pretty soon on that," he added.
"I'll be playing state league footy and putting my best foot forward there. There are a lot of ways to get back in, so for me it's about showing that I can still play at AFL level.
"The VFL is obviously a very strong competition and I've experienced the SANFL over the last couple of years. That's something I'll probably decide later this week probably.
"At this point, it's mainly been about chatting with state league clubs and looking at what that pathway looks like. (AFL) clubs don't know what their lists are looking like until after the trade period and the draft.
"It's one of those things that could happen a little bit later, but at this point I'm focusing more on things I can control."
